Owen is a 1 - year sometime Terrier intermixture . At the beginning of this calendar month , he make it atKern County Animal Servicesin California , cover with K of ticks .
While he was covered from head to toe with the parasites , the most shocking thing to see was how many retick the wretched whelp had around his eyes .
Owen was covered in so many roue sucking tick that he had become anaemic . Because he was lacking so much blood , he was physically watery , had drudge breathing , and his gums had even turned white .
Image: Kern County Animal Services
Due to the severity of his anemia , Owen required an emergency ancestry blood transfusion .
Can Dogs Even Get Blood Transfusions?
Yes ! Dogs can receive blood transfusions , just like humanity !
So , how does it make ?
According to tax shelter vet Kimberly Wilson , dogs can receive blood transfusions the same way we do . And just like humans , dogs have different rake type .
Image: Kern County Animal Services
However , unlike humans , a dog ’s first rake blood transfusion does not have to be a lucifer with their blood type . But any subsequent transfusion do need to match .
According to Wilson , a rake blood transfusion means introducing foreign rip cells into the dog-iron ’s body . Dogs ’ lineage type is actually determined by antigen present on their red blood cells .
The first metre a dog ’s body is exposed to a non - matching blood character , it does n’t react to the antigens . But if infix a 2nd time , the andiron ’s body will turn around and lash out it .
Many ticks surrounding Owen’s eyes.Image: Kern County Animal Services
Another Dog Steps In To Help
Max , mastiff who is also a resident at the shelter , donate 450 milliliters of blood to Owen . This twist Owen ’s situation from vital to stable , and saved Owen ’s living .
After the blood transfusion , Owen ’s blood count returned to normal floor , and he was quick given multiple tub and some much - neededtickmedication .
Since that fateful daylight at the shelter , both Owen and Max have been happily adopted . Hooray for glad endings !
Max, Owen’s donorImage: Kern County Animal Services
How Your Dog Can Save Lives
Thousands of dog rake transfusions are needed every year , but there is a severe shortage of available line of descent to donate .
Usually , a practice must procure this stock from a nearby emergency creature clinic , or just a local dog whose owner is willing to donate blood last - minute .
As dogs must meet some requirements to be a giver , it is easy to imagine why in some parking brake billet , it might be very difficult to actually find descent for a last - minute blood transfusion .
Owen, all clean after his bath.Image: Kern County Animal Services
Typically , blackguard must meet the follow requirements :
Your dog can become a descent giver , either on a one - time - only basis or a regularly occurring basis .
demand and availability of resources vary by state and location . It is costly for a veterinary drill to double up as a pedigree bank , so not every vet has this alternative useable .
However , there are nationalBlue Pearl Bloodbankslocated in Tampa , Seattle , Richmond , and Houston .
Additionally , there are othernational descent bankslocated around the country :
If you would like to make your dearie available as a blood conferrer and redeem precious lives , please refer your veterinary surgeon to find out whether your animal is eligible , and which next steps to take .
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